Celebrating 100 Years of Safety & Interoperability

National Electrical Safety Code® (NESC®)

For 100 years companies and workers alike have relied upon the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) to help guard the safety and efficiency of electric supply, communication lines, and related equipment. One of the oldest and most ubiquitous safety codes, the NESC has been in continuous use since August 1914.

Produced exclusively by IEEE, which serves as Secretariat, the NESC specifies best practices for the safety of electric supply and communication utility systems at both public and private utilities. The code is a collaborative work, and is frequently revised with significant input from the businesses and industries it serves.

As it progresses into the next century, IEEE invites everyone to learn more about the NESC and the vital role it plays in ensuring the safety of companies, employees, and the public alike.

Early electric supply and communications systems were isolated systems serving a specific town or area. They were constructed without standardization of clearances, strengths of materials, construction methods, or operation. As a result of the lack of standardization between systems and across systems, problems occurred for both public vehicles and electrical workers traveling from one area to another or working in different manufacturing facilities.

Published exclusively by IEEE, the NESC sets the ground rules for practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of electric supply & communication lines & associated equipment. It contains the basic provisions that are considered necessary for the safety of employees & the public under the specified conditions.

On 1 September 2014, a preprint of the change proposals for incorporation into the 2017 Edition of NESC will be published and distributed by IEEE-SA. This eight-month open commentary period, which closes on 1 May 2015, will allow interested parties to review, affirm, or suggest additional changes to the code proposals, revising the NESC 2012 edition.